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The son of the former Times editor did, however, say the law on abortion would not change and the law of the land did not have to go with the teaching of the Catholic church.

Mr Rees-Mogg told the morning television programme he was against gay marriage but did not regard it as a “party-political" issue.

The Old Etonian, who is a regular at the Wednesday evening Roman Catholic Mass in Parliament, said: “I’m a Catholic, I take the teaching of the Catholic church seriously. Marriage is a sacrament and the view of what marriage is is taken by the church, not parliament.”

Despite Pope Francis' more informal leadership, he has not officially relaxed the church's teaching on gay marriage or abortion

He voted against the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act in 2013, despite it being pushed by David Cameron, the Tory PM at the time.

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But the Eurosceptic explained he did not judge what other people did and quoted Jesus, saying: “Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone”.

He continued: "I don't want to criticise people who lead lives that are different to mine.

"But equally, I don't want to divert from the historic teaching of the Catholic church. If I were to say 'I oppose' [gay marriage], I would inadvertently be condemning people, and I don't want to [do that]."

Mr Morgan, the ex-Daily Mirror editor, quizzed Mr Rees-Mogg on his leadership ambitions, saying he had earned political “pin-up” status recently, such was his popularity.

He told the Somerset MP: “You are a favourite to replace Theresa May as Conservative leader, people are now mobbing you in the street. You're becoming a bit of a pin-up to ladies of a certain disposition.”